19th Sunday in Ordinary Time - B 2024

Familiarity breeds contempt.  This ancient adage suggests that when we know someone well, we risk losing respect for them as their failings and flaws become apparent over time.  While there is some truth to this, it’s not always the case.  Many couples find that their love deepens as they grow more familiar with each other, even as they discover new imperfections.  Familiarity, when coupled with love, can transform a spark of attraction into a lasting flame.

Yet, familiarity has its dangers.  A carpenter might, over time, lose caution with his tools because he has grown overly comfortable.  Similarly, a zoo worker who becomes too familiar with feeding alligators may let his guard down, risking his safety.  Overfamiliarity can dull our senses, leading to a cavalier attitude toward situations that demand respect and awareness.

Another danger of familiarity is the loss of appreciation.  We live in an incredibly beautiful part of the country, but we don’t always recognize how blessed we are to be in the Upper Peninsula.  It often takes the fresh perspective of visiting friends to remind us of the beauty we sometimes overlook.  Familiarity can blind us to our blessings.

In today’s Gospel, those conversing with Jesus fall into this trap.  Their familiarity with Him prevents them from recognizing who He truly is.  When Jesus claims to be the bread that came down from heaven, they question, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph?  Do we not know His father and mother?  Then how can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”  Their familiarity blinds them to the profound gift He would ultimately give them: His very self in the Eucharist.

To understand this reaction, we should consider the context of Jesus’ ministry.  Throughout the Gospels, various groups—His townspeople, the Pharisees, and even His disciples—struggle to grasp the full reality of who Jesus is.  The idea that this familiar figure, whom they watched grow up, could be the Messiah was inconceivable to many.  This echoes the experiences of the Israelites in the Old Testament, who, despite witnessing countless miracles, often doubted God’s providence.  Their familiarity with God’s presence led them to complain and rebel, forgetting the mighty works He had done.

We too are susceptible to the dangers of familiarity.  Over time, attending church can become routine.  While routine is important, we must guard against allowing it to diminish our reverence for the Eucharist.  It’s easy to let our minds wander during Mass, but we must strive to remain focused, recognizing the profound reality of Christ's presence in the Eucharist.

As Christians, our goal is to deepen our love and reverence for the Eucharist.  Unlike human relationships, where familiarity may reveal flaws, growing familiar with the Eucharist reveals more of God’s beauty and goodness.  Consider the manna provided to the Israelites in the desert: day after day, God faithfully fed His people, yet over time, they grew weary of this miraculous provision.  Similarly, we may take for granted the miraculous gift of the Eucharist, the true bread from heaven.

Yet, we must ensure that familiarity doesn’t lessen our awe.  Sometimes, we forget how awesome and powerful Jesus in the Eucharist truly is.  We know Him as the Lamb of God, but we must also remember that He is the Lion of Judah.  It’s crucial to approach Him with proper reverence, examining our hearts to ensure we are fit to receive Him.  St.  Paul warns us that whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.  This is why it’s important to approach the Eucharist with a pure heart, having confessed our sins and seeking to be reconciled with God and others.

Every Mass is a profound miracle, bringing us to the foot of the cross on Calvary.  We receive the body and soul of Jesus in the Eucharist, allowing our souls to be fed and lifted to Him.  At every Mass, Christ descends and gives us His body in order that our souls might ascend to God.  Whether our hearts are fully prepared or have grown blind and jaded, He freely offers Himself, holding nothing back.

This generosity of Christ should move us to respond with our own generosity.  St.  Thérèse of Lisieux spoke often of the Eucharist as the source of her spiritual strength.  For her, receiving Jesus in the Eucharist was the greatest joy, and she approached it with childlike wonder and deep love.  For her, and for many other saints, familiarity bred intimacy and a deeper love for Jesus in the Eucharist.

Preaching is challenging because each person has different needs and attitudes.  Despite these differences, the Eucharist is the one source that can nourish every soul, regardless of where they are in their relationship with God.  So, I invite you to reflect on your heart.  Have you fallen into any of the pitfalls of familiarity?  Has your love and appreciation for the Eucharist grown or diminished over time?  Do you need to rekindle your reverence and awe for the Lord?  Have you, like the Israelites, grown weary of the heavenly bread, forgetting the miracle that takes place at every Mass?

Perhaps some of us need to take practical steps to renew our devotion to the Eucharist.  Consider spending time in Eucharistic adoration, where we can sit in silence before the Lord, allowing Him to speak to our hearts.  Regular confession is another way to ensure that we are approaching the Eucharist with a clean heart.  Or perhaps it’s simply a matter of arriving at Mass a little earlier, taking a moment to quiet our minds and prepare our hearts for the sacred mystery we are about to encounter.

God has held nothing back in giving us the bread from Heaven, His very flesh and blood in the Eucharist.  May we hold nothing back from Him and work to remove any obstacles that might blind us to the beauty at hand.  May we strive to grow in love and reverence for this great gift so that each time we receive the Eucharist, we do so with renewed awe, gratitude, and love.